Match preview: Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory

After commencing their Championship defence with a Round 1 Melbourne Derby loss, Melbourne Victory are aiming to bounce back for the visit of Perth Glory.

Kevin Muscat’s side turned in a solid display at Marvel Stadium last Saturday but were ultimately beaten by a sucker punch from their city rivals.

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It means Victory will be out to avenge that defeat against the travelling Glory, who were pegged back in a 1-1 stalemate with Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 1.

@kskgroup2017 has scored his first A-League goal for @gomvfc! #MelbDerby #ALeague #WhereHeroesAreMade

本田圭佑選手が Aリーグで初ゴールを決めた! #メルボルンダービー pic.twitter.com/VHHLOf3Y2K

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 20, 2018

KEY OPTA STATS

Diego Castro has scored four goals in his last five games against Victory.
Glory have only won once at AAMI Park in the eight games played at this venue against the Victory (D3, L4), picking up a 3-2 win in March 2013.
Victory will be hoping to avoid a repeat to the start of their campaign from last season, when they lost their opening two games of the season, scoring just one goal in this period.

WHAT THEY SAID

“I think there was seven players in the 11 [against Melbourne City in Round 1] that were new from the Grand Final, from our last game. The amount of work that the players have put in to start off with a performance like that was really encouraging.

“It’s a good starting point for us to keep building and getting better.” – Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat

INS AND OUTS

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3. Corey BROWN, 4.Keisuke HONDA, 5.Georg NIEDERMEIER, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Terry ANTONIS, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Thomas DENG, 15.Raul BAENA, 16.Josh HOPE, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Nick ANSELL, 23.Jai INGHAM

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 13.Birkan KIRDAR (promoted), 16.Josh HOPE (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Ola TOIVONEN (leg – TBC)

Perth Glory squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Jason DAVIDSON, 4.Shane LOWRY, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 9.Andy KEOGH (c) 13.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Tomislav MRCELA, 19.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Scott NEVILLE, 27.JUANDE, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 88.Neil KILKENNY

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 13.Matt SPIRANOVIC (promoted), 6.Dino DJULBIC (promoted)

Outs: None

Unavailable: 11.Brendon SANTALAB (hamstring – 1 week), 14.Chris HAROLD (illness – 1 week), 17.Diego CASTRO (hamstring – 1-2 weeks), 21.Jacob ITALIANO (knee – 1-2 weeks), 25.Walter SCOTT (international duty)